Latch structure



July l, 1941.. A. larr'roRFl ETAL 2,247,937

LATCH sTRuoTURE- Filed May 1s, 1938 Y @Jeff/07:5

is such that it rides upon the casing top wall Illa, thereby avoiding distortion of the bolt when its cam surface I5d is acted upon in order to retract the bolt. The forward part of the bolt I5, including its oifset portion ISC, is considerably wider than its rear portion |51.

The bolt I5 is constantly urged forwardly into its catch-engagingposition by a coil spring I 'I which surrounds the rear portion I5b of the bolt within the casing I0. This spring is confined under compression between the rear end wall Ic of the casing and the enlarged offset portion I of the bolt. The bolt I5 is actuated to disengage the catch to permit opening of the door by push means having reciprocable parts extending through an opening I8 in the door I3.

Specifically, the push means comprises a unit including an inner pin I9 and an outer pin 2l. The inner pin I9 is located in the inner part of the door opening I8 and extends through an opening 20 in the casing bottom wall I4 into the casing I0. The end of the pin I9 within the casing IIJ is enlarged and rounded and it is so located that it engages the upper end of the bolt camway I5d in the normal, extended position of the bolt I5. It will be seen that by pushing the pin I9 toward the bolt, the pin head I9ab will ride upon the camway I5d and retract the bolt I5 against the compression of the spring I'I. The pin I9 is pushed inwardly by the outer pin member 2I which has an axial opening 2 Ia in its inner end in which the adjacent end of the pin I9 is freely received. The actuating pin 2I is slidably received in the outer part of the door opening I8 and it is retained against displacement from the opening I8 by a stationary grip-type handle 22. More particularly, the outer end of the actuating pin 2I is provided with an enlarged head 23 having an annular, enlarged shoulder 24 formed at the inner end thereof. The handle 22 is formed of sheet metal and it is provided with an opening 22a in which the head 23 of the actuating pin 2| is slidably received. The pin shoulder 24 is of greater diameter than the handle opening 22a so that when the handle 22 is secured in place, as by screws 25 passing through openings in the opposite ends of the handle 22, the pin 2I is confined against removal from the door opening but is reciprocable therein. The parts above described are, preferably, so constructed and arranged as indicated in Fig. 3, that in the normal, latched position of the structure the spring I'I moves and holds the parts so that the outer end of the pin I9 engages the inner end of the opening 2liL in the pin 2I and the shoulder 24 on the pin 2I seats against the handle 22, the pin unit being reciprocably retained between the bolt I5 and handle 22. The head 23 of the pin 2I is shaped to be engaged by, preferably, the thumb of the user so that, by grasping the lower part of the handle 22 with the ngers and pressing inwardly on the pin head 23 with the thumb, the bolt-actuating structure is moved inwardly to retract the bolt I5. Upon releasing the pin head 23, the spring II will quickly return the parts to the normal, latched position as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

It is highly desirableithat the handle 22 be mounted in such a way that its opening 22EL is accurately centered with respect to the door opening I8'so that the free reciprocating'action of the pin unit willnot be cramped or hindered in any way. To accomplish this, I provide a centering plate 26 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7). This centering plate is provided-at its lower end with an opening 26a surrounded by an inwardly extending, annular flange 2'I which is of a size adapted to fit snugly within the outer end of the door opening I8. The upper end of the plate 2B is provided with side wings 28 between which the upper leg 22b of the handle 22 is received and confined, the plate being provided with an upper opening 29 which coincides with the opening in the handle leg 22D through which the screw 25 is passed. It will be seen, therefore, that by first forming the door opening I8, then applying the centering plate 26 with its iiange 21 properly engaged in the door opening, then applying the handle 22 with its leg 22b engaged with the upper end of the plate as stated, and then securing these parts by screw 25, the handleopening .22a is properly centered with respect to the door opening I8. Further and proper alignment between the pin I9 and the door bolt is assured by an outwardly turned flange IIIc on the casing bottom wall I4, which flange ts snugly within the inner end of the door opening I8, centering the casing I0 with respect to such opening.

It is highly desirable that latch structures of this character be adapted for application to doors of different thickness. This greatly facilitates production and stock handling of the devices and, to that end, I provide a novel form of bolt-operating pin I9. Specically, the outermost end of this pin is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart circumferential grooves 38 of such depth as to weaken the pin at those points, providing, in effect, weakened sections 3I that may readily be broken away by applying pressure laterally thereto. For example, with all of the sections 3| intact, as shown in Fig. 3, the structure is adapted for a door of a certain thickness or for a certain range of thicknesses; and by breaking off the outermost section 3| or any desired number thereof, the structure is adapted for doors of reduced thicknesses or range of thicknesses. It will be understood, of course, that the weakened pin sections 3I do not aect the ability of the pin to do its intended work, since the operating pressure is applied thereto in longitudinal direction without any tendency to break the weakened portion.

Our invention is adapted for use with various door and jamb arrangements. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, the door I3 may be employed with a jamb 35, the door being provided with an extended outer face portion I3a providing an overlapping seal edge. In this case, the inner face of the door is offset outwardly from the inner face of the jamb and the locking bolt I5 is operatively associated with a catch device 36 located on the uncovered door opening edge of the jamb 35 in a plane at right angles to the inner and outer faces of the door I3 and jamb 35. Also, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the door 40 and jamb 4I may be so arranged that the inner face of the door coincides with the inner face of the jamb and, in this case, the catch device 36 is mounted on the inner face of the jamb in a plane parallel with the inner face of the door 40. In other instances, the locking bolt and its operating mechanism may be carried by a door similar to the doors I3 and 40 and the catch device may be carried by a companion door (not shown), in which case the catch device will be mounted on the inner face of the companion door similarly to the mounting illustrated in Fig. 8. These different catch mountings present a problem in the assembly of the latch structure, in that a catch device having a single catch element adapted to cooperated with the locking bolt I5 in the position shown in Fig. l would not afford an operative Ashown inl-Fig; 8.

relation betweenthe' locking holt. andacatclr. device when such device is-mounted ,-inrgthez position We. have taken: care off this problem: by' providing( a. universal form of-1 catch device-which will operablyfunction withzthe'lock ing boltin all: catch-mounting? positions.

Tothe foregoing; end; the cat-chf 36; isformed of sheet metal.- andf'includes--an'y elongated: flat bodyV portion- 36a having transversely elongated openings 31; atl its' oppositef ends-f and through which. screws or other fastening` devices:y 38 may be passed for securingl thefdevice.- in place;l The elongated openings-31Y 'permit thedevice: to.: be shiftedlaterally to` insurejtheproper engagementfbetween the lockingL b o1t.|-5.andfthe. catch elements38 and 40a. The; catch elements Slfand 40.a extend.n integrally from the sidey edgesvotV the catch body- 36a and are inclined.-A in.V the same' directionandin substantially,r parallelrelationf. In mounting1 the catchfonthewall of the jamb. 35 bounding. the doorway,A as. showninA Fig; 1\, its body ttfa is. secured. longitudinallyof, vthe jamb with. the catch, element 39.1ocatedfnext tofthe door I3., In. this positiornthe catchfelement!) isincli'nedaway. from thedoor` inthe path ofY the bolt l5, for. cooperation. withf the. latter.v With this arrangement as. the door is closed, the rounded'. nose. I El of thelocking boltengages the catch element 39`and is.cammedinwardlyfagainst the action. of spring.k I 1. The catch. is= so, located that' as. the doorreaches its.. fully closed-position', the lockingr bolt will have,passed` bythe end of the catch elementr 39L and. become engagedE therebehindLthroughthe action ofthespring IKL The lock bolt I5' remains ,ini thisposition, until, the pinsl I 9 and 2| areA pushed. inwardly. to.' camvthe locking bolt back out.. of engagement. with. the catch element 3'9,l releasing` thelatch.. structure for'opening oithe'door.

If the catch is located on the inner faceof.. the jamb, as illustrated in Fig.. 8, the catchelement 39 cannotA be adjusted to. any positioninwhichit would: be operably engaged withthe locking. bolt. The locking bolt may., however',.be, operably engagedlwith` the; latch element 4 0%. when. the. catch is positioned'Y as stated., by merely inverting, the catch body 36e" andi securing, it in the position shown in Fig.' 8adj`acent' the doorway,vwherein the' latch element-MIa willv project inwardly an-d rearwardly ofthe doorway and intfo position to be engaged bythe locking bolt |5 inv the manner describedi with respect to the catch element 3a'. Iny this way,; the latch. structure is adapted for any form of mounting; and it is necessary teinclude` only oneV catch device. in each latchY set,

therebyY facilitating manufacture, stock handling ofparts and assembly ofthe latch structure. In other words, our' invention eliminates the neces.- sity` of` stocking and packaging, with each latch set, a plurality'of catch -devicesin order toad'apt the 'latchr structure for universal mounting Itl is believedl that `the* operation and advantages of our'ihvention' will be readily understood from the foregoing, description. The entire latch structurels simpleand embodies but few operating-parts; ly, all without sacricing the desired strength and durability. The parts may be so mounted that vthey are free-acting, whereby the latch may readily be engaged automatically `by moving the door to its closed position with a minimum of force; and very slight pressure is required to actuate the bolt-releasing means. The ease with It may b'e' manufactured quite cheapwhich the structure may be applied to doors of diii'erent thickness and the universal mounting characteii'sticaabove mentioned: have: addeda mafterially tothe successi experienced bythis; latch structure. Y 1

We" claim:v 1

1-. vLatch structure; adapted:y toi be. appli-edi to --one face of. a door' having; an opening therethrough', comprising, a casing;v includingv top, endF andy bot'.- tom: walls, saidend: and-c bottom Walls having openings; therein, a` sheet metal strip; constituting a latchbolt disposed lengthwisey within said-'cas'.-v ing Wi-thI its. opposite ends projecting through and beyondc and: guided. in theopeningsin said; end walls, said-strip bolt having its mid'portionwithin; said casingoifset toprovide a; camwayl thereon inclined forwardly away f-rom'theopening-inthe bottom wall and toward the top wal-l; a spring constantly; urging saids-trip bolt forwardly toward a. latched position;y and meansv adaptedI to: extend through .the door and casing. bottom openingsfin-to free. abutting engager-nent` with said camwayV at substantially right angles tc ther direction:- of movement of; said bol-t andadapted to:befpushed inwardly against said# camway todisplace said strip. bolt. in, oppositionf tofr said? spring..1 L

2. LatchT structure adapted toffbe appliedivto a door. having anv opening therethrough, compris'- ing a casing, having: top,: side and:l end walls; a latch bolt1 having acompara-tively wide: forward part slidablyl projecting` through an. openingin the forward end. wallv of. saidcasing and' a. narrower rear pant slidably projecting-through. a'n open'mgY in. ther rear endv wall oi said-"casi1-1g;. in horizontal alignment with its forward portion", the wide part of. said bol-tadjacentits-narrower part being oisettowardandl against theftopg-wall of said..- casing for slide` support4 thereom` said oiset portion being shaped to provideza--ca-mway inclined forwardly and. outwardly spr-ing.- means associa-ted', with said. narrower bolt part constantly urging said bolt. forwardly into alatchi-ng position, and` push; means engaging said vcam way and adapted to. be mountedT in. saidl door opening. the: arrangement being` such that' by moving, said push means inwardly such means engages. said camway and retracts .saidfA bolt against the action of.Y saidspring means..

31 Latch structure: adapted.. tor be applied to -a door having. an opening therethrough, whichlcomprises a latchboltanda supportthereforadapted to bemount'ed on the inner faceof the/door in alignment with its. opening, spring means const'antlyurging, said bolttoward. latching, position, andi push means.v for retractin'gH said@ bolt. against the actionof! said'. spring, means-including afpai-r of. pin. members adaptedl to. be mountedin. the door opening. one of said. pin members` having one` end disposed in. free, abutting engagement with said. bolt." and its other end freely.Y received in a recess formediin. the inner endofV the. secondlof said.- pin members whereby said pin-.members are maintained in longitudinaLalignment at all times, theY second, pin ,member being-I long enough to project beyond, theouterf'aceof` the door, andv4 means. adapted. to be.A secured. to: the outer face of the. door. and slidably supporting the* outer end of'said second pin member and also serving as a handle for moving the door, and means associated with said second pin member engaging said handle means, limiting the outward movement of said pin members and retaining said pin members, handle means and bolt in associated relation.

4. Latch structure adapted to be applied to a door having an opening therethrough, vcomprising a latch bolt having a camway intermediate `*aligned relation as the push means is reciprocated, said outer pin member being adapted to be mounted in the door opening with its outer end projecting outwardly therefrom, means adapted. to be secured to the outer face of the door and slidably supporting the outer end of said outer pin member, said means serving also as a door handle, and stop means on said outer pin member adapted to engage said handle means in the outermost position of said outer pin member to retain said pin members, bolt 4and handle means in operative assembled relation.

5. Latch structure adapted to be applied to a door having an opening therethrough, which comprises a latch bolt and a support therefor adapted to be mounted on the inner face of the door in alignment with its opening, spring means constantly urging said bolt toward latching position, and means for operating said bolt which includes a pin unit adapted to be reciprocably mounted in the door opening, said unit including an inner pin having a rounded head at one end adapted to engage said bolt, an outer pin having an opening in its inner end in which the other end of said inner pin is freely received, an enlarged head at the outer end of said outer -pin adapted to be engaged by the thumb or nger of the user, a support member adapted to be mounted on the outer face of the door and in which said enlarged head is slidably received, said support member being shaped to provide a stationary grip handle to be grasped by the hand of the user, and stop means on said outer pin adapted to engage said support member and limit the extent of outward movement of said outer pin and to retain said pins in assembled relation between said bolt and support member.

6. A sheet metal latch bolt for latch structure in which the bolt is reciprocated toward and from a latching position, which comprises a comparatively Wide forward portion having its forward end bent back upon itself providing a thickened catch-engaging nose having a rounded outer end, a narrower rear portion in substantially the same plane as said wide portion, an intermediate offset portion in said wide portion adjacent said narrower portion, said offset portion being shaped to provide an outwardly and forwardly extending camway leading substantially from said narrower portion.

7. Latch structure adapted to be mounted on a door having an opening therethrough, which comprises a casing adapted to be mounted on the inner face of the door and having an opening in one of its walls, an integral annularflange on said casing wall surrounding said casing opening and adapted to fit into the inner end of the door opening, a reciprocable latch bolt carried by said casing in alignment with said casing opening, pin means adapted to be mounted in the door opening and having one end projecting through said 'casing opening into engagement with said bolt, and having its other end adapted to project outwardly from the outer end of the door opening, a grip-shaped handle adapted to be mounted on the outer face of the door and having an opening in which the outer end of said pin means is received, means at the opposite ends of the handle for attaching the same, and a centering plate for aligning the handle opening with the door opening and having an opening surrounded by a flange which is adapted to be received in the outer end of the door opening, and another opening therein coinciding with the fastening means at one end of said handle.

8. Latch structure adapted to be applied to a door having an opening therethrough, which comprises a latch bolt movable toward and from a latching position, bolt-operating means including a pin unit adapted to be reciprocably mounted in the door opening, said unit including a part adapted to project from the outer face of the door, a grip member adapted to be mounted on the outer face of the door and having openings at its opposite ends for fastening means and an intermediate opening for slide reception of said projecting pin unit part, and a plate member adapted for centering said intermediate grip member opening with the opening in the door, said plate member having an opening with a flange adapted to be received in the door opening and another spaced opening adapted to align with the opening in one of the ends of said grip member.

9. A latch structure comprising a latch bolt, means supporting said latch bolt for reciprocation in one plane, and a pin engageable with said latch bolt arranged -to effect reciprocation thereof by application of a thrust force, said pin being reciprocable at substantially right angles to the plane of movement of said latch bolt, said pin having a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular grooves formed in ythe periphery thereof adjacent to one end thereof to provide weakened sections capable of being broken away as a group or in succession to vary the length of said pin in accordance with the thickness of the door in which it is to be mounted and a second pin member having a bore in one end thereof adapted to slidably receive therewithin the normally weakened or grooved sections of said first-mentioned pin, said bore having a bottom adapted to abuttingly engage with said end of said first-mentioned pin, whereby an axial thrust force applied to said second pin will be transmitted through said first pin to actuate said latch bolt.

LOUIS A. BITTORF. FRANK DECKER, J R. 

